Banks charge SMEs interest rates ranging between 13 and 15 percent, among the highest across all sectors except services.
Consumers are likely to pay more for a range of home appliances, from rice cookers and clothing irons to air conditioners (ACs), as the government phases out value-added tax (VAT) exemptions on locally manufactured electronics.
The budget for FY26 has drawn strong criticism from business leaders who say it lacks a clear roadmap for improving the investment climate, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and implementing overdue reforms in the banking sector.
The government is going to expand import duty exemptions on pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment, with 79 new items expected to be added to the duty-free list in the upcoming national budget.
Private investment as a percentage of the gross domestic product has slumped to its lowest level in five years, stoking fears over waning business confidence and a slowdown in job creation.
The government is considering reducing customs duty on seven imported tanning chemicals in the upcoming national budget, offering slight relief to the country’s struggling tannery sector.
In the heart of Dhaka, amid vibrant toy displays and the hum of industry conversations at InterContinental Dhaka, sector people were talking about a quiet revolution — one that could redefine Bangladesh’s export landscape and lessen its long-standing reliance on imported toys.
Japanese investment in Bangladesh has grown steadily over the past decade. But with clearer policies, improved infrastructure and a more predictable regulatory environment, there is room to attract much more.
Banks charge SMEs interest rates ranging between 13 and 15 percent, among the highest across all sectors except services.
Consumers are likely to pay more for a range of home appliances, from rice cookers and clothing irons to air conditioners (ACs), as the government phases out value-added tax (VAT) exemptions on locally manufactured electronics.
The budget for FY26 has drawn strong criticism from business leaders who say it lacks a clear roadmap for improving the investment climate, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and implementing overdue reforms in the banking sector.
The government is going to expand import duty exemptions on pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment, with 79 new items expected to be added to the duty-free list in the upcoming national budget.
The government is considering reducing customs duty on seven imported tanning chemicals in the upcoming national budget, offering slight relief to the country’s struggling tannery sector.
Private investment as a percentage of the gross domestic product has slumped to its lowest level in five years, stoking fears over waning business confidence and a slowdown in job creation.
In the heart of Dhaka, amid vibrant toy displays and the hum of industry conversations at InterContinental Dhaka, sector people were talking about a quiet revolution — one that could redefine Bangladesh’s export landscape and lessen its long-standing reliance on imported toys.
Japanese investment in Bangladesh has grown steadily over the past decade. But with clearer policies, improved infrastructure and a more predictable regulatory environment, there is room to attract much more.
Some manufacturers say they are now opting to reduce office utility consumption, optimise office supplies, minimise bank dependence, and find alternative funding sources.
Bangladesh is on track to retain its status as the world’s biggest cotton importer in the marketing year (MY) 2025-26, with imports projected to reach 8.5 million bales, according to a record-setting forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
